Dowel cutter trubles.

[Broke another one]

All righty then, I bought this item (   picture and info   ) and finally got a chance to test it. Now for those of you who dont know this thing works like a pencil sharpener you spin the wood clockwise into the cutter and the blade trims the wood to the proper diameter. My problem is that it takes beyond forever turning the wood by hand, I have heard of people using a power drill to speed the rotation up so I thought I would give that a try, my problem is that after a few rotations with the drill the part of the wood that the drill is holding gets twisted off. Is there a way to prevent this from happening?

[Mike Most]

I chuck up a hex head bolt, and the hex head drives the 3/8 drive socket with the wood in it. I like a fairly tight fit.

I don't however use the veritas, I have a jig set up to run the stock by  a router with a 1/2 inch straight bit. The result is the same.

Hope that helps

Mike

[AKmud]

I just got mine yesterday and have only run a couple pieces of wood through it so I am no expert.  I went ahead and bought the 1/2" socket adapter (before someone pointed out the reversed bolt thing....   :rolleyes: ).  I did notice that the cutter seemed to be much smoother if my drill was on the fastest speed and I just eased the wood through it.  If I hogged it through or used a slow speed it came out much rougher.

[soopernate]

I have the same setup but havent had the chance to use it yet.  Bowmaking is taking up my time now.  Arrows will be getting done after the first of march or so for my spring flinging.

[DVSHUNTER]

I bought the same one and after spinning off a few heads I tinkered with the blade and speed until I found what worked.  In my case the debris after the cut bound up the arrow. Hope that helps.

[Brently]

I have one and I have found that it depended on the type of wood I was using and the quality also.  Like AKmud said, run it at a fast RPM and ease it thru slow.

[Roy from Pa]

I have used a VERITAS dowel cutter before, mine was their bigger unit, like about $150.00 worth. I also had trouble with shaft's splitting off, anywhere from the drill to in the cutter it's self. Finally went back to making shaft's with a block plane. I can finish a shaft in a half hour that way.

[Jake Fr]

in ther catalog they have a new arrow making jig its pricey but think it will work better than the dowel cutter

[Jeff Smith]

Adjust the blade angle, improper angle causes trim waste to foul the cutter. I use a cordless drill on mine and can also hand turn it fairly easy if the blade is adjusted properly. Fast and smooth cut.My blade is kind of curved.

[sulphur]

are you saying that the 1/2 square your using twists in the 1/2 square bit or that the wood breaks off???  i'm not sure what you mean, but i only use the veritas dowel cutter when making my arrows.  i have made literally hundreds of arrows with it.  i am sure i can help if i know what your problem is.  send me a p.m.